Saturday, February 6, 2010

#58) ROB GARDNER

Rob Gardner came to the New York Mets when he was selected from the Minnesota Twins in the 1963 first-year draft. The 20-year old left-hander would make his major league debut as a Met 0n September 1, 1965. A late season roster call-up who got the start, but only lasted three innings at Shea Stadium that day. His start at the end of that year on October 2nd would be a different story. A four hour and twenty nine minute one. Gardner would take the ball for the second game of a double-header facing the Philadelphia Phillies. The rookie tossed 15 innings of shut-out ball, allowing just seven base runners along the way. Rob wound up with a no-decision as the game was called (due to a New York City curfew) after eighteen scoreless frames. It was made up as part of a second double-header the following day.

Rob pitched for the Mets the entire 1966 season, but was starting the next year back in the minors when he was traded by New York with Johnny Stephenson to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for Bob Hendley on June 12, 1967.

Rob Gardner signed his card in the set for me from an autograph request sent to his home on February 5, 2010.

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PROJECT STATUS

Current Count of 712 of 791 players.

90.0% Complete

( 7 -Special Moment cards)

Project started in October 2008.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The New York Mets and all their fans bid farewell to a major part of their history at the close of the 2008 baseball season. Shea Stadium had been our summer home for 45 years. So many memories were built there by the 790 players that appeared in a game for the Mets during that time. In celebration of that I created a set of handmade cards featuring each one of these men. My design was done in such a way as to allow an autograph to be included. I am now in the process of having each one signed by those players. This blog will feature the cards as I get them completed. I hope you enjoy following my progress and reliving the careers of these great men that will always be our Mets.

ABOUT ME

I am a lifelong New York Mets fan that grew up in the midwest. I have followed the club and it's rich array of characters throughout the years. Perhaps the most special of which are the "one game" appearances. These men each have a terrific story and honor the legacy of the great Archibald "Moonlight" Graham.
As an autograph collector of the Mets team I will be posting my successes here as well. The focus of my collection is to add a signed baseball card for each man to appear in a game for the Mets. I will be posting examples of these here.